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The Farmory (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
The Farmory is a nonprofit urban farm, where community members can learn about sustainable agriculture and aquaponics. However, many of the farm's features were inaccessibly to visitors who rely on wheelchairs or other mobility devices. To make the space more accessible, the Farmory installed a new aquaponics system, which is low to the ground. This allows visitors to see the farm's growing systems without needing to climb onto a ladder. The system consists of four growing beds, water tanks, a germinating chamber and a harvesting area. Today, produce grown with the new aquaponics system also helps combat food insecurity -- the Farmory donates about ten pounds of greens each week to the county's Aging and Disability Resource Center.
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Newark, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The project will install fencing around garden beds and provide supplies for older residents. Those residents will take over summer maintenance of a pilot garden project at a local elementary school.
Montpelier, VT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: This project created a pop-up produce stand to distribute affordable food from Montpelier's city farm. Additionally, the City made improvements to an area outside its older adult center to create a space for weekly outdoor gatherings.
Imperial Beach, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: This project will build and maintain a garden for growing fruit, vegetables and flowers. The city will add raised beds and accessible benches to accommodate older gardeners. They will also hold classes and other gatherings onsite.
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Green Bay, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The project will create a landscaped garden for growing medicinal plants traditional to the Oneida Nation. Signage will describe each plants importance, history and use and community elders will harvest the plants for social and medicinal purposes.
Appleton, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To give residents more spaces to gather and socialize, Creative Downtown Appleton created a parklet. Volunteers repurposed two on-street parking spaces to create the mini-park, which they outfitted with seating, tables and LED lighting. To make the space accessible to wheelchair users and parents with strollers, organizers installed a ramp. Additionally, they installed bike racks nearby. Visitors to the parklet are welcome to pick herbs for free, which Creative Downtown Appleton planted onsite. Project organizers say the space supports nearby businesses -- the parklet offers people an outdoor seating option so they can enjoy coffee or meals purchased locally.
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